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Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Pediatricians, families of trans youth seek a shield law for providers of gender-affirming care
State Sen. James Ohrenschall sponsored a similar bill in 2023. It passed both houses on party-line votes and was then vetoed by Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo. (Photo: Jeniffer Solis/Nevada Current) For Eida Fuji, the mother of a transgender child, access to gender-affirming medical care wasn't a matter of 'policy disagreement' but a matter of life and death for her family. 'I was faced with a choice of burying a son or gaining a daughter,' Fuji said in a tearful testimony to state lawmakers last month. 'My daughter is alive today because she had access to the gender-affirming care she needed. This care did not harm her or confuse her. It saved her life. Without it, I have no doubt I would be mourning my daughter instead.' Despite widespread support from medical groups, the nation has seen an increase in legislative, political, and cultural attacks against gender-affirming care, including social transitioning and puberty blockers. Nevada law doesn't restrict medically necessary gender-affirming care. Yet, families of trans children along with pediatricians throughout the state still worry bans in other states could prevent trans youth from seeking care and doctors from providing it. Senate Bill 171, sponsored by Democratic state Sen. James Ohrenschall, seeks to enact a shield law for medical providers who offer gender-affirming care and prevents a medical license board from punishing or disqualifying providers. The bill passed out of the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee Thursday in a party-line vote. The legislation also prevents a Nevada governor 'from surrendering or issuing a warrant for the arrest of an individual who is charged in another state with the crime of providing, assisting or receiving medically necessary, gender-affirming health care services unless those acts are prohibited under Nevada law.' He sponsored a similar bill in 2023. It passed both houses in a party-line vote and then was vetoed by Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo. In his veto message, the governor wrote the bill 'decreases the Executive Branch's authority to ensure the highest public health and child safety standards for Nevadans.' Ohrenschall, along with the numerous medical providers and pediatricians who testified in support of the bill, said the legislation is needed more than ever. 'Many states have criminalized or otherwise restricted gender-affirming care, even when it's medically necessary or provided with the informed consent of the patients and their families,' he said. The states that have passed bans 'not only harm transgender individuals but create a climate of fear and uncertainty for health care providers who offer gender-affirming health care services.' Democratic state Sen. Melanie Scheible, a cosponsor of SB 171, said the bill was necessary to address the fact 'we are currently living in a constitutional crisis' and some states 'are attempting to expand their jurisdiction beyond their legal borders in ways we have not seen in generations before us.' 'If people, who apparently do not understand how state's rights work or how the United States Constitution is structured, are going to attempt to come to Nevada, threaten our providers for following our laws and not following their laws, we are saying to our providers 'we are going to protect you,' ' Scheible said. Though Lombardo vetoed the shield law in 2023, he did sign other legislation expanding protections for the trans community. Leann McAllister, the executive director of the Nevada chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, noted that Lombardo also signed legislation that shielded in-state providers serving out-of-state patients who sought abortion care. 'In my mind, evidence based care is evidence based care,' McAllister said. 'Why should abortion care be covered and not gender affirming care?' The American Academy of Pediatrics policy regarding trans kids 'encompasses all sorts of gender affirming care, even including the social transition,' which helps children and their families access their identity, said Terence McAllister, a Las Vegas based primary care pediatrician. 'The more important thing, the thing we really concentrate on, is the social transitioning and the mental health support from the very beginning,' he said. 'We know that children who are trans are at higher risk for depression, anxiety and suicide. It's not because they're trans, It's because they're not accepted.' Other medical interventions that are considered gender-affirming care include hormone treatment and puberty blockers. 'The most extreme type of intervention are surgical interventions, which are exceedingly rare in pediatrics,' he said. 'I've had no patients of mine who have gone to that step. It is just very unusual, very rare in pediatrics.' Nevada state law hasn't restricted specific types of gender affirming care, as long as it's deemed medically necessary and a parent or guardian has granted consent. Though the state hasn't actively sought to limit gender-affirming care like other states, Julpohng Vilai, a pediatrician based in Southern Nevada, said offering health care for LGBTQ adolescents has become increasingly challenging over the years. Vilai's patients tell him it is already a struggle for those in the LGBTQ community, in particular trans youth, to find adequate health care. Nevada already struggles with a physician shortage, making it all the more challenging for trans youth to find a doctor. As a result, many trans youth don't seek needed care 'because they're not sure if they can find it,' he said. 'When they actually do find a provider who is not only willing to provide that care, but has a lot of experience in providing that care and wants to provide, the support and care that people need is really important,' he said. Another reason finding care has become difficult is partly due to increased anti-LGBTQ rhetoric around the country and a growing number of bills in state legislatures seeking to restrict trans people from access to health care and public accommodations. President Donald Trump's return to office has intensified the attacks against the trans community. There are already pediatricians who were 'already on the fence' on providing gender-affirming care, who have decided not to take on trans patients 'at risk of retaliation or legal consequences,' Vilai said. Many doctors backing SB 171 worry efforts by other states to restrict medical care for trans youth could exacerbate provider uncertainty and reluctance in Nevada. That's why they are imploring lawmakers to pass a shield law to protect medical providers, they said. Ohrenscall said 26 states have passed bans on gender-affirming health care 'that have caused significant harm to the community.' Last year, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sought to investigate an out-of-state provider offering gender-affirming care to a minor. Paxton accused a Seattle hospital of providing puberty blockers, which are banned in Texas, to youth in the state. His investigation was dropped. However, supporters of Nevada's bill worry there could be future efforts to investigate or even extradite doctors in other states who provide gender affirming care. Scheible used the example of marijuana laws and how various states mandate where consumption is legal and how many ounces a person may possess. Nevada's laws, she said, could be different from Colorado's law. She added it would be ludicrous for Nevada officials considered arresting or investigating someone in Colorado. 'That's exactly what other states are trying to do,' she said. 'They are trying to say in Texas we are going to ban the prescription of puberty blockers.' SB 171 is opposed by conservative groups, including the Nevada Republican Party, which argue the bill decreases the governor's authority to 'ensure the highest public health and child safety standards for Nevadans' — an echo of Lombardo's veto message two years ago. Ohrenschall reiterated that the legislation doesn't change 'what is legal, medical care in Nevada.' 'What it does do, and what it will do if it is passed, is protect health care providers, patients and their families when seeking legal medical care in Nevada,' he said. 'Much of the opposition testimony is misinformed. We did not hear from any health care provider opposed to this bill.'
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawmaker seeks to establish guardrails, ‘some accountability' around artificial intelligence
(David Espejo/Stock photo via Getty Images) Democratic state Sen. Dina Neal wants to put some guardrails around artificial intelligence companies setting up in Nevada and prevent some professions such as police officers and teachers from misusing the technology. Senate Bill 199, heard Wednesday by the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee, would establish a process for AI companies to register with the Bureau of Consumer Protection within the Attorney General's Office. The legislation would require AI companies to develop, implement and maintain policies, procedures and protocols to prevent hate speech, bullying, bias, fraud and the dissemination of misinformation. Much of the language in the bill was based on principles outlined by the Organization for Economic Cooperation Development, a global policy network, and included language similar to 'a definition that is used in 44 countries, including the United States,' Neal said. She also used language found in Colorado legislation that passed in 2024 and established AI regulations. Business groups, including the Vegas Chamber and the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance, opposed the legislation arguing it would stifle 'economic growth' by deterring tech companies from moving to the state. 'The unfettered movement of AI without guardrails is not the intent and not the direction I seek to move,' Neal said. 'We should know how data is being used within an AI system. We should be able to consent to when and how our information is used in an AI system …There should be some accountability.' SB 199, if passed, would also prohibit law enforcement from using AI to generate police reports or teachers from using software to create lesson plans. The Associated Press reported last year that Oklahoma City was using AI chatbots to generate crime reports from recordings picked up by body cameras and police radios. Neal was shocked by the story and realized 'we really need to deal with this' to ensure there were 'guardrails that are associated with police reporting.' 'I wanted to make sure that it was something we were proactively considering,' Neal said, expressing alarm at the possibility that 'a person is actually going to be affected negatively by the police reporting that may not have been done by (police), but by an AI chatbot.' Law enforcement groups, including Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and Washoe County Sheriff's Office, opposed the section. Jason Walker, a lobbyist for the Washoe County Sheriff's office, said there are 'many advantageous uses of AI in the law enforcement profession.' He didn't specify what specifically about the prohibition on using AI to generate police reports he was against. In addition to preventing teachers from creating AI-generated lesson plans, the bill creates a working group on the use of artificial intelligence systems in the education system to develop further recommendations and guidelines. Two Clark High School students who worked on sections of the bill regarding education presented the legislation alongside Neal on Wednesday. They cited a recent incident in which five students in a business class turned in nearly identical AI generated assignments – with the same spelling mistakes. Celine Chang warned lawmakers that 'unregulated AI use is affecting students, teachers and the learning environment' but the state lacks standardized regulations. Clark student Karen Wu, said AI isn't just a tool to 'supplement learning but to replace it.' 'We acknowledge that AI is not going away, but the way we integrate it into education will determine whether it becomes a tool for enrichment or a shortcut that erodes learning,' she said. The bill would also prevent landlords and property management groups from using AI from determining rent prices. Republican state Sen. John Steinbeck questioned if that provision would hurt the housing market. 'It's my understanding that apartment operations utilize AI software to assist with filling apartments,' he said. 'It helps them with the market analysis and may actually help lower some housing costs.' The provision, Neal said, was to prevent price fixing by real estate software companies such as Real Page, which has faced numerous lawsuits for artificially raising the price of rents. RealPage has denied wrongdoing in these cases. Neal specifically highlighted the North Carolina case where the state attorney general 'sued six companies for colluding to raise rent instead of competing in the fair market using AI tools.' 'They exploited landlord sensitive information to create a price fixing algorithm, or pricing algorithm that violated antitrust laws,' she said. The legislation would also require the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation to estimate the number and types of Nevada jobs at risk of being lost due to AI. 'We have seen reports that within five years, there's going to be a serious shedding of traditional jobs' as a result of AI, Neal said. 'At the end of the day, the state is responsible if their citizens are out of work.' Other than the bill's presenters — Neal and the students — no one testified in support of the legislation. The committee took no action on the bill.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
TN lawmaker proposes allowing for 12-month supply of birth control in bill
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A Memphis Democrat wants those buying birth control to be able to receive one year's supply in the state of Tennessee. Sen. Raumesh Akbari has proposed SB 589, which would require all health plans, as defined in state law, to provide contraceptive coverage in 12-month refills of the drug at one time for someone insured. According to present law, health plans that provide prescription coverage for birth control must allow for 12-month supplies unless the patient requests a smaller amount; however, present law does not require a health benefit plan to cover contraceptives provided by a doctor or at a pharmacy that does not participate in that specific plan. Akbari's bill would change the definition of 'health benefit plan' to include a 'hospital, surgical, or medical expense policy; health, hospital or medical service corporation contract; a policy or agreement entered into by a health insurer, or a health maintenance organization contract offered by an employer; other plan administered by the state; or a certificate issued under those policies, contracts or plans.' The bill would also prohibit any health plan that provides hormonal contraceptive coverage from imposing 'utilization controls' or other forms of 'medical management' that limit the supply of contraceptives to anything less than a 12-month supply. Additionally, the bill revises the definition of 'contraceptive' to remove the requirement that the contraceptive be one that is 'legally marketed' by the FDA. ⏩ According to the fiscal note on the bill, estimates on how much the bill could cost up to $1.4 million starting in Fiscal Year 2026. The effective date on the bill would be Jan. 1, 2026. Lawmakers were set to discuss the bill in the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee on Tuesday, March 25. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
10% tax on vape products moves forward in Tennessee statehouse
Tennessee lawmakers have taken a first step toward imposing a 10% tax on certain vapor products such as vape pens, vape molds, cig-a-likes and pod mods, and requiring FDA approval before vape products are sold. A Republican-led measure heard for the first time on Tuesday seeks to impose a 10% tax on vape products and add consumer safety rules for vape products. An estimated 400,000 people in Tennessee regularly use vaping devices. Tennessee is one of about 20 states — many of which are located in the southeast — that does not currently levy a tax on vape products, according to the Tax Policy Center. Members of the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee approved Senate Bill 763 in a vote of 7 to 1, despite rigorous opposing testimony. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Ken Yager, R-Kingston, who is facing DUI and hit-and-run charges in Georgia, and Senate Finance Chairman Bo Watson, R-Hixson. "We need to stop the influx of illegal Chinese vape products that are addicting our children and wrecking their lives," Yager said during the hearing Tuesday. "It is not an attack on legitimate businesses. It is an attack on people who are selling their soul and poisoning children to make a buck." The vast majority of vape products in the United States are imported from China. As of 2024, the FDA had approved only 34 vape products such as vape pens, hookah pens, electronic cigarettes, e-cigars and e-pipes. In addition to a new 10% tax on vapor products, Senate Bill 763 would also require vapor product manufacturers to register with the state and pay an annual $25 fee to ensure only FDA-approved products may be sold. The bill would also require customers to show proof of their age when buying tobacco, vape, hemp and smokeless nicotine products. Danny Gillis, president of the Tennessee Smoke Free Association and owner of three vape shops, called the bill an effort to "allow big tobacco to take over our harm reduction industry." "This is a big tobacco crafted bill. It's an attack on the state of Tennessee's vaping industry in our stores, and more importantly, on the rights of every adult consumer to access harm reduction products," Gillis said. "This is the latest example of a continued weaponization of public health rhetoric to justify the prohibition of vaping products under the guise of protecting youth." Gillis warned that the bill would "take 99% of vape products off the market," "create an unfair tax structure" and could lead to the closure of as many as 700 vape businesses across the state. "There is no public health justification for removing safer alternatives to cigarettes while allowing combustible tobacco cigarettes to remain widely available," Gillis said. The new tax is projected to bring in nearly $16.5 million in new tax revenue for the state, according to a fiscal analysis. Tennessee currently levies a $0.62 per pack excise tax on cigarettes and a 6.6% tax on other tobacco products. Smokeless nicotine products would continue to not be subject to state tax. Vivian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Reach her at vjones@ This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: 10% tax on vape products moves forward in Tennessee statehouse
